From Under .500 to Leading the Wild-Card Race: The Arizona Diamondbacks' Remarkable Turnaround
As recently as June 28, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in a precarious position. Sporting a 39-43 record, they were trailing the third wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games with four teams ahead of them. Even more daunting, the team lagged a staggering 11 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Fast forward to August 14, and the Diamondbacks have engineered an extraordinary pivot, rising to the top of the wild-card race and maintaining a comfortable six-game cushion for a postseason berth.
Since June 29, the Diamondbacks have recorded a blistering 29-10 run. Their recent form is nothing short of spectacular: Arizona has won nine of their last ten games and 17 of their last 20. Even in defeat, they have been competitive, with their three losses coming by a combined four runs. Notably, they haven't lost a series since late June, boasting a 12-0-1 record in 13 series since June 27.
Individual performances have played a significant role in this resurgence, despite some setbacks. Christian Walker has been sidelined with an oblique strain since July 30, while Gabriel Moreno suffered a groin strain last week. Additionally, Paul Sewald had to be removed from the closer's role due to struggles. In their absence, others have stepped up remarkably.
Corbin Carroll, who had been underperforming with a batting line of .192/.278/.279 in 254 plate appearances as of June 5, has found his stride. In his last 243 plate appearances, Carroll is now slashing .248/.336/.491. Meanwhile, Josh Bell has been a revelation, hitting .300/.352/.660 with four home runs in just 14 games. Jake McCarthy has been equally impressive, batting .460/.477/.730 in his last 17 games. "It's been awesome. But, you know, we want to continue to improve on this, and take this into September and the postseason," McCarthy stated, underscoring the team’s determination.
The Diamondbacks have also had to employ a diverse pitching strategy, using 14 different starting pitchers this season. The current rotation includes Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, and Brandon Pfaadt. Kelly, making a strong return, held the Phillies to two runs over five innings. New addition Eduardo Rodriguez has already contributed two starts since his season debut last week.
Closer duties, transitioned to Justin Martinez, have also been reliably executed. Martinez is 3 for 3 in save opportunities since taking over. Additionally, A.J. Puk has been a force out of the bullpen, surrendering just one run while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings since joining the team.
Offensively, the Diamondbacks are firing on all cylinders, hitting a combined .305/.368/.565 over the past 20 games and averaging an impressive 6.90 runs per game during this stretch. Adrian Del Castillo delivered a walk-off homer against the Phillies, while Alek Thomas added to the drama with a clutch game-tying two-run single against the Blue Jays. The designated hitter platoon of Randal Grichuk and Joc Pederson has also contributed significantly, hitting .287/.379/.519 with 26 home runs.
As a result of their phenomenal 17-3 run, Arizona's postseason odds have skyrocketed from 40.5% to 91.5%, according to FanGraphs. This remarkable transformation highlights their resilience and depth. The Diamondbacks’ journey from a sub-.500 team to playoff contenders is a testament to their grit, adaptability, and collective effort.